Catch the Amazon ride at River Safari

Catch the Amazon ride at River Safari

SINGAPORE - The Amazon River Quest boat ride at the River Safari finally opened to the public on Saturday.

The boat ride, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes, was supposed to be launched earlier this year, along with the River Safari, but its opening had to be pushed back due to technical difficulties.

The launch marked the completion of the River Safari, the latest attraction by Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Visitors on the boat ride will sail through a 483m-long man-made river, designed to simulate a boat voyage down the Amazon River.

They can view close to 30 species while on the ride, including three animals not found in other local attractions - the red-backed bearded saki monkey, collared peccary and red howler monkey.

At 10am on Saturday, when the attraction opened, there was a steady queue of visitors waiting to take the ride.

Visitors felt they did not have to wait too long to get in, with most saying they were in the queue for under 30 minutes.

Some visitors were unaware that they had come on the same day as the opening of the boat ride.

One of them was flight steward Charles Goh, 50, who took his two children to the River Safari.

"We are very lucky, we didn't know the boat ride would be opened," he said. "It was enjoyable. I managed to take videos of the species I saw."

The highlights of the ride were the jaguars, flamingos and scarlet ibises, according to visitors that The Sunday Times spoke to.

Ms Sally Goh, 40, who took the ride with her daughter, liked the scarlet ibises the most for their bright red feathers.

"I enjoyed the ride. My family and I visit the zoo quite often, maybe two to three times a year," said the order management supervisor.

While it is not quite adrenaline-pumping, the 15-seat boat plunges gently at some stretches. Many visitors were hoping to secure the front-row seats.

Among them was 12-year-old Karen Pua, who visited the attraction with her mother.

"It was too bad that I didn't get to sit in the front row. It would be more fun if I got splashed at," she said.

Ms Ting Ching, a technology director in her 40s, said her five-year-old daughter enjoyed the boat ride.

"But she could not really see the animals because some were quite hidden and she was too small to see them," she said.

Ms Claire Chiang, chairman of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, hopes visitors will have a great "edutainment" experience.

"It is education, where they see the interplay of nature, animals, and all the issues of conservation, but they will also be entertained... with the splashes. The children love it," she said.

When asked about park admission prices, Ms Chiang replied that the wildlife park is in "an introductory phase", but there are plans to increase ticket prices next year.

"We will benchmark it to the many other parks that are operating," she said.

River Safari has attracted more than 500,000 visitors since its opening in April. The number is expected to rise to 600,000 during the year-end holiday season, added Ms Chiang.

The Amazon River Quest boat ride is open from 10am to 5pm, while River Safari operates from 9am to 6pm. Children must be above 1.06m to take the boat ride.

River Safari tickets are currently priced at a discounted rate of $25 per adult, $16 for children aged three to 12, and $12.50 for senior citizens.

leepearl@sph.com.sg


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